I need advice. My story as simply as I can convey it is this:

I had a pap smear during a visit to determine the cause of abnormal bleeding I had been experiencing for several months. The pap smear showed abnormal cells, I had biopsies done during a colposcopy and those results came back with a diagnosis of CINIII. I had a cone biopsy performed 10 days ago and today got those results...they basically confirmed the CINIII in the portion of my cervix that had been removed (the majority, making another cone not possible), but I had unclear margins and a result of CINII in the remaining portion. My doctor explained that she had "treated higher up" in the cervix and had taken samples of the remaining tissue and that these are the findings. She said that I have very "advanced disease", but her recommended course of action at this point is pap tests every two months to monitor the progression and "treatment" as required. As everything I have read on the topic states that regression at this point is highly unlikely and that it is nearly impossible to pinpoint a timeline for progression from cancer in situ to full blown cervical cancer, I do not see what this emotionally stressful waiting game is going to accomplish. I feel that I should have a hysterectomy. I am 36 years old, married with two children. Even if I wanted to have another child, that is impossible at this point. She needed to remove so much of my cervix that pregnancy would no longer be an option... so she did a tubal ligation as well as a D&C and an endometrial ablation (for the bleeding I initially was seen for) at the same time as the cone biopsy. If anyone who has been where I am right now can offer any advice, it would be GREATLY appreciated. Should I simply wait or should I insist on the hysterectomy??? HELP??

I think that is a decision only you and your doctor can make. We all know the emotional stress of the waiting game. I have been dealing with it for over a year, and many of the ladies here even longer. However, even though you can't have any more children there are and will be emotional stress involved in dealing with a hysterectomy as well. Did you discuss the option of a hysterectomy with your doctor? What were her thoughts on it? Did she give you reasons why she didn't want to go that route at this time? I think you have to weigh the emotional stress of both and make a "personal" decision on what you think is best for you. Some women deal with a feeling of being "less of a women" after a hysterectomy. Which in no sense is true, but it is an emotional issue many face. I think it would be a good idea to discuss your thoughts, fears, and ideas with your doctor.

Good Luck, and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!:angel:

Thank you so much for the response. I have had this discussion with my doctor. We spoke prior to all of these procedures about, in my words, "just taking it all out". She said that if I had a male doctor, that is what I would have been scheduled for, but that woman to woman, her course of action is what she would want done to her. She brought up many of the same issues that you did and said that she had yet to have a patient who emotionally handled the hysterectomy well. She also was concerned with the recovery time and the "changes" brought on by having one. Especially since I still have a small child to care for. Of course, all of this was discussed when she was confident that she could remove all of the problem area, which, obviously was not the case. I spoke with another doctor in the practice (male) via telephone as I had to go to the ER last night for post surgical bleeding (nothing like having your cervix stitched by a strange male resident while you profusely bleed to strip what is left of your dignity at this point) and he felt that she was just trying to buy some time and that ultimately I would end up with the hysterectomy, but that the longer they could put that off, the better. But he also said that because of the stage of this and the apparent aggressiveness (my pap seven months ago was normal), he could not even guess how long it would take to progress to invasive cancer, but that it would if left untreated. What if that happens in the two months between pap tests?? I am just so confused. I will see my doctor in three weeks for my second post op visit and I am going to have a serious heart to heart. I also feel that a second opinion is warranted here. The stories I am reading here tell me that I am soooo lucky to have had this discovered at this stage, so I certainly don't want to make the wrong decision and end up with full blown cancer. I have bed rest for the next three days so I have alot of time to think about it... Thanks again!! Any other feedback is greatly appreciated.